Lieutenant (junior grade) Robert Anderson of the Naval Air Force is
here on a 10-day leave, visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold C.
Anderson, 724 Lee Street, his wife, and his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs
O. J. Lofthus, of Chip-[**data missing**]

Battle Described in Which City Pilot Got 5 Jap Planes

LT.
ROBERT ANDERSON
Lieutenant
Robert H. Anderson, United States Naval Reserve, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold C. Anderson. 724
Lee Street, whose wife, the former Virginia Loftus, resides at 226 West
Columbia Street in Chippewa Falls, shot down five Japanese planes and
assisted in the destruction of another pair recently, when his Navy
fighter squadron accounted for 19 enemy aircraft in one engagement
without losing one of its own planes, according to a dispatch released
by the Navy Department Public Relations Office at Washington, DC.

"Lieutenant Anderson was leading one of two Hellcat fighter
divisions on a search for an enemy destroyer in the Philippines area,
when a formation of Jap Oscar and Zeke fighters was sighted. The Navy
pilots jettisoned their bombs and rockets and sped in for the attack.

"On their first run, the Hellcat flyers knocked down nine Japs,
before the enemy pilots could fire a shot.

"Several additional Japanese fighters joined the enemy group,
before the Navy pilots could come around for a second clash. Although
they were outnumbered, the Hellcats resumed the action and a general
dogfight ensued.

"Lieutenant Anderson and his wingman were attacked by three Japs,
coming in from different directions. The Navy airmen turned against
their attackers and sent one down, before seeking safety in a cloud.
Pulling out of the protective cover, Lieutenant Anderson got two more
Japs in his gun sights and shot them down by extreme maneuvering.

"He then joined up with another Hellcat pilot to knock down a Jap
who was fleeing for his base.

"When the squadron returned to its carrier, the destruction
of 19 Japs had been confirmed. Not a single bullet hole was found in any
of the Navy aircraft."

Pilot Who Bagged 5 Japs in One Battle, on Way Home

LT.
ROBERT ANDERSON
Lieutenant
Robert H. Anderson, United States Naval Reserve, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold C. Anderson, 724
Lee Street, arrived in San Francisco, CA Sunday on his way to Eau
Claire on leave of absence, after a tour of duty in the Pacific that
brought him high honors as a fighter pilot for outstanding success in
combat against the Japanese.

Recently, Lieutenant Anderson was awarded the Navy Cross for shooting
down five Jap planes and possibly a sixth in a single encounter with the
enemy.

His citation, accompanying the Navy Cross Award, follows:

"For distinguishing himself by extraordinary heroism in operations
against the enemy while participating in an aerial flight against enemy
forces of 14 December 1944 in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands.

"He led a division of planes in an eight-plane formation and,
when an enemy formation of twenty-seven planes was encountered, he led
the attack on the enemy formation despite the numerical odds and, during the ensuing engagement, shot down
five enemy planes and probably shot down another enemy plane.

"When his wingman was under attack by an enemy plane, and while
he was almost out of ammunition, he dove on the enemy plane and forced
the enemy plane to break off the attack.

"His courage and skill were, at all times, inspiring and in keeping with
the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Lieutenant Anderson has also been awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross and the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

The citation given when he was awarded the Air Medal follows:

"For distinguishing himself by meritorious acts while participating
in an aerial flight over enemy-held territory in the Philippine Islands
on 14 November 1944. While escorting a photographic plane, his
formation was attacked by two enemy planes. He so maneuvered his escorting
division, as to overcome an altitude disadvantage and himself shot down
one of the enemy planes, permitting the successful completion of the mission
and a safe return to base. His skill, daring, and devotion to duty were
in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval
Service."

Navy Ace, Victor Over Six Japs in One
Battle, Killed in Plane Crash in Maryland

LT.
ROBERT H. ANDERSON
Lieutenant
Robert H. Anderson, United States Naval Reserve, hero of many Pacific air battles and an
outstanding American fighter ace, was killed in a plane crash at Snow
Hill, Maryland, about 11 o'clock Tuesday morning, his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Harold C. Anderson, 724 Lee Street, have been notified.

Lieutenant Anderson returned from the Pacific War Zone, on leave, early
in April and reported to Norfolk, Virginia Navy Station May 16, after spending a month, at home, for reassignment.

He had not been
flying while at Norfolk and it is believed his fatal crash, Tuesday, may
have been his first time in the air since returning from the Pacific.

Details of his accident have not been received, but he is believed to
have been flying a new Navy fighter plane at the time.

Lieutenant Anderson's wife, the former Virginia Loftus, of 226 West
Columbia Street, Chippewa Falls, and their 20-month-old daughter
accompanied the Lieutenant east when he completed his leave here and
were with him at Snow Hill. Mrs. Anderson telephoned news of the
disaster. She is expected to arrive home tonight.

Lieutenant Anderson was a fighter pilot on an aircraft carrier participating in some of
the most bitter fighting in the Pacific Theater. His outstanding feat,
however, was shooting down six Japanese Zeros in a single encounter with
the enemy. For this, he was awarded the Navy Cross. He also held the
Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters.

He had participated in the bombing of Tokyo and other Japanese homeland
cities on several occasions and once,
while over Tokyo, mistook a formation of Zeros for friendly
and joined the formation. He fought his way out, in only one of his
narrow escapes in combat.

His victory over six Japanese airmen in one battle occurred last
December 14 in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands. He was officially credited with shooting down five planes,
with a sixth possible, but Navy men have
since conceded the sixth as also a victim of Anderson's marksmanship.

When awarded the Air Medal, he shot down one Jap plane, drove off
another, and permitted successful completion of a mission by a
photographic plane he was escorting.

His citation accompanying the Navy Cross award follows:

"For distinguishing himself by extraordinary heroism in operations
against the enemy, while participating in an aerial flight against enemy
forces on 14 December 1944 in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands.

"He led a division of planes in an eight-plane formation and,
when an enemy formation of twenty-seven planes was encountered, he led
the attack, despite the numerical odds and, during the ensuing engagement, shot down
five enemy planes and probably shot down another enemy plane.

"When his wingman was under attack by an enemy plane, and while
he was almost out of ammunition, he dove on the enemy plane and forced
the enemy plane to break off the attack.

His courage and skill were, at all times, inspiring and in keeping with
the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Besides his parents, his wife and daughter, Lieutenant Anderson is survived
by one brother, Private William Anderson, with the Army Signal Corps at
Fort
Monmouth, NJ, who is now on his way home; a sister, Joan, employed at
Minneapolis, who arrived home last night; and a grandmother, Mrs. H. A.
Morrison, who resides at the Anderson home here.